CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Providence College softball team was defeated by Southern Illinois, 8-0, and Saint Joseph's, 4-1, on Saturday, March 8 at the USF Under Armour Invitational.

In the first game, against Southern Illinois (8-0, L), junior Kelsi Luttrell (Mission Viejo, Calif.) collected the first Providence hit while leading off in the second inning. She singled and later advanced to second on a passed ball, but the Friars were unable generate runs in the inning.

Sophomore Kiki Baldassari (Denville, N.J.) and junior Lauren Paiva (Middletown, R.I.) gathered the other Providence singles in the game in the third and fifth innings, respectively. Freshman Taylor Huntly(Las Vegas, Nev.) took the loss for Providence, while Shaye Harre tallied the win.

Southern Illinois scored two runs in the third off of a two-run home run and then added five in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead. The Salukis scored one final run in the sixth to secure the victory at 8-0.

In the second game (4-1, L), Saint Joseph's scored one run in the first inning and two in the second to take a 3-0 lead early on. Sophomore pitcher Kiara Amos (Malden, Mass.) only allowed three hits in the game. Junior Kristie Dederick (Camarillo, Calif.), Baldassari, junior Shanelle Harrell (Irvine, Calif.) and Paiva collected singles in the game.

Freshman McKall Miller(Ashburn, Va.) hit her second home run of the season putting the Friars on the board in the sixth (3-1). Saint Joseph's added its final run in the sixth to take the game 4-1.

The Friars play again tomorrow against Boston University. The first pitch is set for 9:00 a.m.